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Charles A. Speice

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Charles A. Speice

Birth	:	10 Nov 1830 Boalsburg, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death	:	29 Jul 1909 Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska, USA
Burial	:	Clementsvale Cemetery, Clementsvale, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate	:	44.6190264, -65.5642997
Description	:	From the web site: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/county/platte/vitals/vitals1909b.html Columbus Journal, August 4, 1909 After suffering as an invalid for several years, Hon. Chas. Speice, one of the early pioneers of Columbus and Platte county, passed away at his home, at Sixth and Grover street, last Thursday morning. As one of the pioneers he has been associated with the growth of the city and county ever since he came here, which was in 1857. Born in Boalsburg, Center county, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1830, he spent the early part of his life on a farm. After attending the local schools he continued his educational course and graduated from... Read More	From the web site: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/county/platte/vitals/vitals1909b.html Columbus Journal, August 4, 1909 After suffering as an invalid for several years, Hon. Chas. Speice, one of the early pioneers of Columbus and Platte county, passed away at his home, at Sixth and Grover street, last Thursday morning. As one of the pioneers he has been associated with the growth of the city and county ever since he came here, which was in 1857. Born in Boalsburg, Center county, Pennsylvania, November 10, 1830, he spent the early part of his life on a farm. After attending the local schools he continued his educational course and graduated from the Altoona college. Soon afterwards he concluded to cast his fortune in the west and soon afterward located in Memphis, Tenn., where he worked at his trade of a carpenter. Omaha was his next stopping place, where he arrived in 1856 remaining there one year before coming to Columbus in 1857. The same year he arrived here he built a log house on the site now occupied by the present Speice home. Here on May 31, 1860, he was married to Catherine Becher, a sister of Gus G. Becher of this city, and to them were born nine children, seven of whom, Gus B., W.I. and Letitia of this city, Mrs. J.C. Post and Miss Catherine of Guthrie, Okla., J.M. Speice of Kingfisher, Okla., and Dr. Wilk Speice, of Chicago, are still living. In the early days Mr. Speice was interested in educational work and organized the first school district in Platte county, and was later elected county superintendent, which position he filled for a number of years. He studied law and was admitted to the bar, and was later elected to the office of county judge. He also served as a member of the legislature form this county. In 1869 he formed a partnership with J.E. North in the land loan and insurance business, which continued until 1893, when Mr. North removed to Omaha. Later he conducted a coal business until he suffered from a paralytic stroke four years ago. Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock, being conducted by Rev. Harkness of the Presbyterian church, and being in charge of the Masonic order of the city, of which he had been a member for over forty years, the order using their burial ceremony at the grave. -------------------------------------- From the web site: Charles A. Speice, who came to Columbus in 1858, proved to be a valuable addition to the little settlement of sturdy men and women who were engaged in building a town on the Nebraska prairie. He was a native of Pennsylvania and when twenty-six years of age, migrated to Nebraska, landing in Omaha, May 12, 1856, on the steamboat Omaha, which had just made her maiden voyage up the river The first man he remembers seeing on his arrival was Governor Cuming, who had his trousers tucked into the tops of his boots and, though so late in the spring, was enveloped in a buffalo overcoat. Mr. Speice remained in Omaha until the 1st day of January, 1858; and arrived at Columbus on the third day of the month. During his boyhood he had learned the carpenter's trade and this was his avocation for several years after reaching Nebraska. In the mean time he studied law, was admitted to the practice in all the courts of the state, and the Federal courts. About the year 1865 he formed a law partnership with Oliver T. B. Williams, which lasted two years. He then became associated with James E. North, the firm name being Speice & North. The business of the firm was law, real estate and real-estate loans and continued until June, 1893. Charles A. Speice was often called into service in the protection of the settlement against anticipated Indian raids. In the so-called Pawnee war, which occurred in July, 1859, Platte County turned out fifty men. Only four men remained at home in Columbus, and there were less than a dozen stay-at-homes in the entire county. His political affiliations were with the democratic party and he was called upon to fill numerous offices of trust and responsibility. He was a member of the board of county commissioners from 1862 to 1866, a member of the lower house of the Legislature in 1869-71; a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1872, which framed a constitution that was rejected by the people; county superintendent of schools from 1871-75. He was also a member of the Board of Education of Columbus from the early '60s until late in the '70s. During the years 1886-7, Mr. Speice was county judge. In January, 1893, he was appointed to the board of supervisors to fill a vacancy and at the general election following was returned for the office. ---------------------------------- From the web site: http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/resources/OLLibrary/Platte/pages/bios/hpcn0170.htm Charles A. Speice, one of the leading figures in the early years in the development of Columbus and Platte County, was born November 10, 1830, at Altoona, Pennsylvania. He attended the Altoona schools and was graduated from Altoona College. He came to Omaha late in 1856, and to Columbus in the summer of 1857, a year after the town was founded. Having learned the carpenter trade, he started in first as a building contractor, but was destined to use his talents in many other fields, including education, real estate, the coal business, the legal profession, and a career in public office. He was active in the organization of the Columbus school district in 1960, and a few years later, served as its director. Mr. Speice bought the old "Company House," in 1861, which had served during the winter of 1960 as quarters for the first public school. Also around 1860, he began the study of law. He was soon admitted to the bar and became one of the county's early lawyers. However, he devoted most of his time to the handling of legal matters incident to the Speice and North's real estate, abstract, and loan business. Mr. Speice was one of the organizers of the Columbus Cemetery Association in 1864, and served as its secretary from 1879 until 1909. He was chairman of the group of citizens who organized the Congregational Church Society of Columbus, on September 2, 1865. He was also an early Platte County Superintendent of Schools, serving from 1869-1871, and again from 1875-1876. He served as one of three county commissioners from 1861-1866, inclusive, and again from 1894-1895, and a county supervisor from 1895-1896. He served a two-year term as County judge, 1886 and 1887. He was elected Mayor of Columbus in 1877, and held that office until 1879. In 1869, Charles A. Speice and James E. North formed a partnership and established a real estate, abstract and loan office, under the firm name of Speice and North. Through this business, they were instrumental in helping many settlers to locate homesteads, and sold thousands of acres of railroad land. Together, Mr. Speice and Mr. North organized the Union Pacific Coal Company. They engaged in the coal business until 1892, when Mr. North was appointed internal revenue collector, and they then dissolved partnership. Mr. Speice continued as proprietor of the firm until his death, on June 29, 1909. On May 31, 1860, Charles A. Speice was married to Katharina Becher, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gustavus Becher, Sr. Mr. Becher was the first merchant in Columbus, and Katharina had lived in Columbus from 1857, when her father, Gus Becher, Sr. and his family, moved here from St. Louis. The wedding took place in a log house which stood on the site of the old Speice home, at the southeast corner of Sixth Street and Eighteenth Avenue. Mrs. Speice was born October 4, 1838, at Pilsen, Bohemia. Charles and Katharina Becher Speice had nine children: Thomas Stuart Speice died in infancy, in 1863; Josephine Fredericka, the wife of Joseph C. Post, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; Gustavus Becher, "Gus," married Clara F. Sprink; John Milton, "Milt," married Anna Brady; Charles Bordman, "Bont," married Alice Elias; William Koenig, M.D., "Wilke," married Elizabeth Letz; Washington Irving, "Irve," married Ann Louise Matthews; Katharina Mary, "Kitty"; and Letitia Ellen is the widow of Doctor Mark M. McMahon. The above are all deceased except John Milton and Letitia Ellen. Mrs. Charles A. Speice died on January 24, 1909, in Columbus. She was a sister of Gustavus G. Becher, Francis G. Becher and Mary Becher Bremer, of Columbus, and Laura Becher Koenig and Josephine Becher Metz Miller, of Omaha. Charles A. Speice was an active figure in the development of Columbus and Platte County; a builder whose constructive activities touched as many phases of the early life of the community as those of any other man.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Charles A. Speice's memorial?
Charles A. Speice's memorial is located at: Clementsvale Cemetery, Clementsvale, Annapolis County, Canada.
When did Charles A. Speice death?
Charles A. Speice death on 29 Jul 1909 in Columbus, Platte County, Nebraska, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Charles A. Speice's memorial?
Latitude: 44.6190264
Longitude: -65.5642997

Family Members:

Spouse

Katharina B. Becher Speice

(1839 - 1909)

Children

Thomas Stuart Speice

(1861 - 1863)

Gustavus B. Speice

(1864 - 1920)

Charles Bordman “Bont” Speice

(1869 - 1909)

Washington Irving Speice

(1875 - 1941)

Katherina Mary Speice

(1877 - 1943)

Letitia Ellen Speice McMahon

(1882 - 1974)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Clementsvale Cemetery
Clementsvale, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6190264, -65.5642997

2. Old Methodist Graveyard
Clementsvale, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6167000, -65.5638700

3. Waldeck East Cemetery
Waldeck, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6298200, -65.6160100

4. Greenland Cemetery
Greenland, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5810100, -65.5777400

5. Cress Burial Ground
Waldeck, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6286100, -65.6271200

6. Old St. Edwards Anglican Church Graveyard
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6638120, -65.6058590

7. Waldeck West Cemetery
Waldeck West, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6121940, -65.6399440

8. United Church of Canada Graveyard
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6633820, -65.6096900

9. Balcome Burial Ground
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6727500, -65.5960000

10. Ray Family Burial Ground
Cornwallis Park, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6559900, -65.6325200

11. Mount Hope Cemetery
Bear River, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5765120, -65.6363960

12. St. John's Anglican Graveyard
Bear River, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5779430, -65.6383510

13. Maple Vista Cemetery
Clementsport, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6807660, -65.6017620

14. Old Methodist Cemetery
Bear River, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5774700, -65.6396000

15. Victory Cemetery
Victory, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.5640740, -65.5051470

16. Goat Island Baptist Church Graveyard
Upper Clements, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6888540, -65.5974590

17. Moore-Spurr Cemetery
Deep Brook, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6300500, -65.6718700

18. Pinkney Family Cemetery
Deep Brook, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6167300, -65.6775900

19. Potter Burial Ground
Upper Clements, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7009500, -65.5826200

20. Graywood Community Cemetery
Graywood, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6566270, -65.4585680

21. St. John the Baptist Anglican Church Graveyard
Graywood, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6513970, -65.4513590

22. Avard Orde Cemetery
Graywood, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6498900, -65.4460300

23. Captain John Harris Cemetery
Upper Clements, Annapolis County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.7134200, -65.5520600

24. St. Thomas Cemetery
Smiths Cove, Halifax County, Canada
Coordinate: 44.6120400, -65.7028340